Page 4 of Keeper of the Word (The Unsung and the Wolf Duology #2)

Chapter

Four

IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF ASALLE, THE HEART OF THE CAPELLA REALM: TOLVAR

T he capital city of Asalle was the grandest city in the mightiest empire on the continent of Tasia.

There was no dispute. Hundreds of songs and epic poems celebrated what for centuries had been referred to as the Heart of the Capella Realm.

Tolvar watched for Hux’s reaction as the capital’s many spired towers and outer curtain wall—crystal white and the tallest that Tolvar had ever laid eyes on—came into view miles away.

Joss, Barrett, and Gus, the knights who traveled with them, also went slack mouth at the sight. Barrett, who was by far the quietest of the three, even uttered, “Stars be good.”

’Twas impossible to gaze upon it the first time and not be awed.

“If I knew no better, I would dare say the very walls of the city glittered,” Hux said, his voice somber.

“’Tis Asalle’s Light. A gift from the StarSeers,” Tolvar returned.

“The StarSeers. I know the term, of course. There are five, correct? All women? Supposedly gifted from birth to See the future in the stars?” Hux cocked his head. “Is it true? The stories that surround them would have one believe they’re the stuff of fairy stories. ”

“They are very much real, I can assure you,” Joss interjected from her mount.

“Have you met them?” Hux’s eyes rounded.

“No one meets the StarSeers.” Joss threw her shoulders back.

“I have once,” Tolvar said.

Joss’s cheeks bloomed.

“Oh?” Hux slowed his steed.

Lady Tara. Her very form had been as a vision sculpted by a master artist. And her very words were a phrase that Tolvar still contended with.

Never mind that now.

“And are the StarSeers and this Light you speak of truly the key to the Capella Realm’s power?” Hux chuckled.

“An entire millennium would suggest just that, aye,” Gus spoke, his gaze fixed on the city.

Hux followed Gus’s gaze as they rode.

’Twas not a literal light. At least not to Tolvar’s mind. He certainly couldn’t detect it. But even as a man of no faith, Tolvar would not deny that Asalle’s Light drew their attention.

Yet Tolvar also knew that the Capella Realm’s peace, prosperity, and power were two-fold.

Aye, the Light graced by the StarSeers was a part, but the capital in the very heart of the empire—one side bordering Lenfore, Tolvar’s country, and the other side bordering Grenden, the Capella Realm’s other half—was the other.

“’Tis the StarSeers, but ’tis also the unification of its twin countries, Lenfore and Grenden,” Tolvar replied.

Hux nodded along. “I see. The StarSeers reign in Ashwin, do they not? I believe that’s not far from your province, Lord Wolf?”

“Aye, ’tis the southernmost province of the realm.” Tolvar’s chest thrust out, thinking of how his own family’s land was the safeguard province to Ashwin.

They crossed the Stella Pohl Bridge, a gigantic construction so tall that ships could easily sail under it along the Glendower River. ’Twas the only one of its kind—built centuries ago. Tolvar smirked as Hux dismounted momentarily to gaze upriver.

“It flows all the way from the Mehr Sea,” Tolvar said .

They traveled off the bridge and down the last bit of meandering road. An expanse of open countryside stretched into the distance along the river.

They reached the main city gate. Open, as always.

“No guard?”

“Bah. Asalle is the safest city on the continent,” Tolvar said, as they trotted through the gate and into the city.

“Aye, aye. Its Light. I know.” Hux waved his hand in dismissal.

They clip-clopped down the paved road, miles of boroughs on either side. Hux lost his words, and Tolvar’s chin jutted higher. Deogol’s capital, Kestriel, could fit in one district of Asalle.

This was to say naught of Asalle’s reputation, but as they’d already spoken of its Light, Tolvar said no more.

But to him, Asalle’s Light meant the security of any lone citizen walking the streets.

It meant those who could not find work or had not the ability to earn their keep could be housed in one of the multiple shelters the sovereign’s great-great-grandfather had established long ago.

Asalle was a capital for the people—a haven where those of the Capella Realm felt protected and cared for by their sovereign.

Tolvar’s father had erected a shelter in Thorindale to mimic the sovereign’s system of care for his people.

People taken care of were people who took care of others.

Tolvar had made this seven-day trip from Thorin Court to Asalle many times in his life, and he enjoyed Hux’s words being knocked from him as they rode deeper into the city.

“Your sovereign certainly makes a show,” Hux finally said, his head swiveling.

“Aye.” Tolvar almost smiled. “That is an understatement."

If Tolvar had been a man who wagered, which he wasn’t, he could have won a great deal of coin on how swiftly King Rian’s entourage greeted them when they entered Castle Sidra’s outer bailey .

Tolvar was ushered into the castle's inner keep; the others were escorted to where the sovereign’s higher retainers were served.

Chancellor Griffith, shorter than Tolvar remembered, guided him through the snake of corridors and stuttered awkward compliments about the Wolf as they walked.

Tolvar had half a mind to rat him out to King Rian but chose to give him the benefit of the doubt.

It’d been years since he’d seen the chancellor, and mayhap with other guests, he was the pinnacle of prestige.

Forbearance. He’d promised himself forbearance.

He was surprised when, instead of Chancellor Griffith escorting him to the throne room, they entered the Royal Solar.

King Rian paced the room, his hands clasped behind his back.

Obviously taken by surprise when the doors opened, the sovereign regally transformed his posture, standing straight as a scepter.

He was a tall man, not as tall as Tolvar—few were—with a broad nose and an angular, squared chin.

Despite ruling an empire, his eyes were not permanently hardened, although Tolvar had certainly witnessed them at their most brutal.

At this moment, they appeared overly concerned.

One did not become the Wolf by missing minor details.

“Your Majesty.” Tolvar bowed as the chancellor scurried from the room, shutting the double doors behind him.

“The hero of the hour,” King Rian said, his arms raised. “Back in the Capella Realm where you belong.”

Tolvar was not one for kowtowing. “Which I ne’er would have left if not for Your Majesty’s—suggestion.”

King Rian sighed. “This is why I knew to greet you in private, so you could get out all your grousing.” He wagged a finger. “You’re fortunate that I forgave you and lifted your banishment.”

Tolvar snorted. “I would have enjoyed your explanation to the realm as to why your most famed knight is still banned after defeating an abominable force of death and saving an entire kingdom!” His voice rose as he finished.

The two locked themselves in a staring match.

So much of King Rian reminded Tolvar of his father.

His firm frown, his obstinate need for being right.

The love he had for his family. Tolvar’s father had been King Rian’s most trusted confidant.

’Twas the reason Tolvar had been bestowed the honor of being betrothed to King Rian’s cousin years ago.

It occurred to him that they both mourned.

King Rian’s declaration of banishment four years ago had been one of grief.

Mayhap one made in haste and swiftly regretted.

But as sovereign, King Rian would have faced difficulty reneging his declaration.

Tolvar’s quest was the means needed to justify the end of the banishment.

If Tolvar had only known how much the quest would change him. How it served to put an end to so much self-loathing.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. Glad I am to be welcomed home and, more importantly, to be Your Majesty’s guest.”

King Rian softened his regard. “You’ll never hear a sovereign apologize, Tolvar, but if you did, you would understand that some decrees are happily broken.”

Tolvar nodded.

“I have already heard a barrage of tales about Sloane the Unsung and her defeat of the Befallen, but I would hear it all from your mouth. Especially as I hear that some of the tale concerns the Curse of Adrienne and your brother? Have I heard correctly?” Both men flinched at the word “Adrienne,” but sovereigns did not flit around words, even cursed ones.

Tolvar knew these questions were coming but hadn’t expected them in the first five minutes of his audience with King Rian.

“Aye, Your Majesty. You’ve heard correctly.”

“Pray, sit.” The sovereign sat and gestured for Tolvar to do the same.

Tolvar had reached the part of the story where, on the battlefield, the leader of the villainous Brones had been revealed to be Crevan when the doors opened.

“Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty. You have ten minutes.”

King Rian nodded as the chancellor closed the doors.

“Stars almighty. That is quite the tale. I’m afraid the ending will have to wait until this evening.” They both stood.

“The rest, I’m certain, you’ve already heard,” Tolvar said. “I assume you have a myriad of loathsome festivities planned in which you intend to parade the Wolf around.”

King Rian widened his stance. “I must be allowed to show off when I can. I hold court in one hour’s time. You’ll be presented there and meet with me for the first time.” King Rian winked and left the room.

This audience was not common knowledge then. The sovereign had been careful to test out his welcome with the Wolf first.

A wise idea.

’Twas said of the Wolf that he held his tongue for no one, and this afternoon, Tolvar was certain that would have included a sovereign.

So far, the week as the sovereign’s honored guest had been as dull as his return to Thorin Court. However, Tolvar tried to convince himself that home was not dull; he simply wasn’t yet reaccustomed to it. When he left Asalle, he’d return and…stars, this was his new life now.

There’d been an endless schedule of feasts, a ball, even a pompous festival called “Festival of the Wolf.” Stars.

The only interesting event Tolvar had taken part in so far was a miniature tournament in which the sovereign had arranged for Tolvar to compete against a half-dozen knights from surrounding provinces.

A knight from Elendura had been his only real competition, and even he’d been taken down quickly.

At least Tolvar had received some exercise.

And all the gossip here at court. Topics only fit for a ladies’ sewing circle. ’Twas tedious and repetitive. The only interesting topic—and Tolvar could hardly call it engrossing—was the gossip surrounding Prince Dashiell, whose betrothal had finally been named, a daughter of a noble in Grenden.

Aye, naught to do but feast and listen to tittle-tattle and count down the days until King Rian gave permission to leave.

The Wolf was not one for sitting idle .

Hux, on the other hand, seemed to be having a marvelous time. He was a favorite of both women and men, and Tolvar rolled his eyes every time Hux left the Great Hall in the evening with a new conquest. Even King Rian was plainly amused by Hux.

If he only knew he hosted a criminal. Tolvar, at least, enjoyed that thought.

“Wherever did you find him?” King Rian chuckled one evening as they observed Hux dancing with not one but three ladies at once.

“In a battle in which I captured and almost killed him.”

King Rian and others within earshot laughed, assuming Tolvar spoke in jest.

’Twas late. Tolvar had not sneaked up to the sovereign’s Priva as much as he would have liked, and he very much wanted a moment’s peace.

“With Your Majesty's permission, I’ll say good night,” Tolvar said, standing.

“Already?” said a young woman with deep blue eyes. They’d clung to Tolvar for the last two nights. “I hoped I might hear another of your tales, Lord Tolvar.”

“Mayhap another time.”

Tolvar was halfway across the Great Hall, his eyes trained on the side entrance in which he could escape, when a servant burst through the main doors.

“Your Majesty! An urgent message from Ashwin!”

The crowds quieted.

Tolvar furrowed his brow and returned to the dais, where the sovereign stood with a hand extended to receive the message.

Messages from the StarSeers were rare but always of the utmost importance. The Five did not play with their power.

A crowd gathered around King Rian as he silently read the note. When he gazed up from it, he was pale.

“Send for my council at once. And Lord Tolvar, I instruct you to join us. This concerns you, also.”